The F13 error code on an Indesit washing machine means that the water is struggling to drain away within the allotted time and the machine has ended the cycle.
Most of the time this fault is caused by a blockage that is stopping the water from draining or a problem with the drain pump.
In rare cases, it can be a problem with the wiring inside the machine or a problem with the printed circuit board behind the controls on the front of the machine.
Before you go ahead and attempt to fix your washer you should make sure that it is isolated from the electrical supply.
This is how to fix the F13 error code on your washing machine:
Look inside the drain pump filter for a blockage
If your washing machine is showing the F13 error code and is struggling to drain the water, you should look inside the drain pump filter.
This is the most common place in a washing machine where you will find a blockage that would be stopping the water from draining away.
Most Indesit washing machines will have a filter at the bottom right of the machine that you can unscrew and remove so that you can look inside.
We have a full guide on draining the water inside your washing machine when it’s blocked and struggling to drain which includes a step-by-step guide on the easiest way to remove the filter.
You should try to lean the machine back so that you can put a washing-up bowl underneath the filter to catch the water when you remove the filter.
Once the machine is leaning back you can then remove the kickplate and then unscrew the filter anticlockwise slowly so that the water doesn’t flood out.
Slowly drain off the water and then when it all seems to be gone you can then remove the filter and look inside the drain pump housing for a blockage.
You can expect to find small objects that have come out of the pockets on your clothes such as coins, bobbles, hairclips, and keys.
Using a torch can help to see inside the pump housing so that you don’t miss anything and once you are done you can refit the filter and then put the machine back down on all four feet.
If you don’t find a blockage, then you should move onto the water waste pipe which is the second most common place to find any objects blocking the water.
Remove the water waste pipe and check for a blockage
The water waste pipe is the long grey pipe that comes out of the back of the machine at the bottom and connects to the spigot under your sink or to the plumbing in your home.
It’s common for small coins and fabrics to get stuck at the end of the pipe near the plumbing in your home so you should remove it and take a look.
If you can’t find anything blocking the end of the pipe, then you should move onto the other side which attaches to the drain pump housing.
This means that you will have to follow all of the same steps the same as when you removed the drain pump filter but this time you will need to unscrew the pump housing and drop it down underneath the machine.
From there you can use pliers to unclip the waste pipe from the pump housing so you can take a look inside.
The waste pipe will have an elbow bend where it connects to the housing which makes it easier for objects to get stuck.
Look inside the sump pipe for a blockage
The sump pipe is what connects the drain pump to the drum so that the water can be drained out of the machine.
The sump pipe is another area in the machine that is susceptible to getting blocked, especially if you have recently lost a sock in the wash or have washed a bath mat that could have shed its fabric.
The top of the sump pipe is large and has a ball filter inside that is designed to catch a blockage so that it doesn’t go into the drain pump and damage it.
You can remove the pipe by leaning the machine back and unscrewing the jubilee clip that holds it onto the drum.
It’s a good idea to drain the water from inside the drum before you remove the sump pipe so that the water doesn’t flood out of the drum.
Test the wires that power the drain pump
If you can’t find a blockage inside the washing machine, then you should move on to checking the wiring that powers the drain pump.
If the pump can’t receive power from the control board, then it won’t be able to drain the water out of the machine.
You can test the wires for continuity by using an electrical multimeter and diagnose any problems with the wiring.
By testing from the control board down to the pump you can make sure that there are no breaks in the cables that would be stopping power from getting to the pump.
It’s also a good idea to visually inspect the wires for any signs that they might have failed including burning or melting.
It’s also common for the connections on the drain pump to break if your washing machine has been shaking around a lot recently.
Try replacing the drain pump
Once you have made sure that there are no blockages in the machine and that the drain pump can receive power you should move on to replacing the drain pump.
If there has been a blockage in the machine recently then the pump impeller might have been damaged.
You can find the correct drain pump for your washing machine on a spare parts website and luckily Indesit washing machine drain pumps are usually very economical.
Replacing the drain pump is quite straightforward and similar to the steps taken to remove the drain pump filter and the water waste pipe.
The only difference is that you need to unscrew the drain pump from the housing and transfer the wires over to the new pump.
Once you have replaced the drain pump you should be able to test the machine on a short cycle and confirm if it has fixed the F13 error code.
Summary
By following the repair tips above, you should be able to fix the F13 error code on your Indesit washing machine.
Here is a summary of everything we have covered:
- Start off by checking the drain pump filter for a blockage – This is where most loose objects will get stuck and stop the machine from draining.
- Move on to checking the water waste pipe – If a blockage has made it through the drain pump filter it might have gotten stuck in the drain pipe
- Check the sump pipe for a blockage – Larger blockages will get stuck here and if you have recently lost a sock in your washing machine then this is where it will most likely be found
- Test the wires that power the drain pump – Look for any physical damage such as burning or melting and then test for continuity between the control board and the drain pump
- Try replacing the drain pump – If your machine doesn’t have a blockage and the pump is receiving power but it’s still showing the F13 error then a new drain pump should fix the problem
Sometimes the F13 error code can be caused by a faulty control board which can be caused by a broken drain pump short-circuiting the electrical tracks.
Although Indesit washing machines do commonly have control board problems which can cause them to flash and beep it is rare for them to cause the F13 error code, but it does happen.
If you have followed all of the technical advice above and your machine is still experiencing the F13 error, then you should consider replacing the control board.
Replacing the control board can be an expensive repair so you should consider the cost of the repair against a new washing machine.
If you need more information about Indesit washing machine error codes, then you can go and check out our technical guide which lists each of them and what they mean.
